Packing-frame



G. T. MALLETTE.

PACKING FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22. 1917.

Patented July 27, 1920. 10 Fag j H 7, 9 16 f 1 19 19 j [7 I 17. 6 I6 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII M. kid?- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE T. MALLETTE, OF IBVINGTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO NEW JERSEY PATENT COMPANY, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PACKING-FRAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 22, 1917. Serial No. 192,852.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. MALLE'r'rn, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resldent of Irvin on in the county of Essex and State of ew ersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n acking-Frames, of which the following 1s a descri tion.

T is invention relates to packing frames, and more particularl to frames used to space phonograph ca inets or other articles away from the shipplng or packing case during transit, so that the hlghly polished and ornamental surfacesv of the cabinet will not be marred, scratched, disfi ured or damaged.

11 present constructions it 1s usual to provide a top packing frame, as it s called, 1nclosing the cabinet, or other article near the top and provided with plugs having pads, engaging the sides of the cabinet. The top frame is usually held in position against movement upwardly and downwardly by straps or tapes attached to the frame and extending over the top of the cabinet and by a second frame or cradle extending under the cabinet and connected to the top frame by strips of suitable material.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of the top frame, whereby articles, such as phonograph cablnets which are highly polished, can be shipped in packing cases without becoming marred, disfigured or damaged.

In particular, the object of the invention is to provide a cheap, durable top frame which can be easily and quickly ad'usted around articles or cabinets of di erent sizes, and which will engage the article or cabinet in an efficient manner, whereby it can be safely ship ed without danger of becoming disfigured scratched, marred or damaged.

My invention consists further in the details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification and in 50 like parts in the several views- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the top packing frame;

which like reference characters refer tothe entire frame to the cabinet with the pack- 1ng case therearound; and I Fig. 3 is an elevation of the upper portion of the cabinet with the top packing frame applied thereto.

As here illustrated, the packing frame 1 compr ses four side members or pieces 2, PI'OVIdlIlg a square frame corresponding in shape to the article which it surrounds. The present invention, however, is applicable to frames adapted to surround articles of any size or shape. The side pieces 2 are substantially alike in construction, and consist preferably of wood with the grain runmng lengthwise thereof. A block 3 is fastened to one side of each member or piece and extends from one end 4 thereof a short distance inwardly. Nails 5 are driven through the block'and its side member in order to securely fasten the .block to the strip or piece 2 although other fastening means may be employed. The heads of the nails are countersunk in the' block, while the points of the nails are driven through the piece 2 and clenched on" the outside thereof, forming a secure fastening for the block. Each-block is preferably of wood.

A block 6 is also attached to each side piece 2 at a point spaced inwardly from the opposite end 7 thereof and upon the side upon which the block 3 is fastened, providing a portion 8 on the piece 2 between the block 6 and the end 7. The several side pieces or members 2 are arranged when assembled as a square frame, with the blocks 3 and 6 on the inside of the frame near the corners and with the block 3 of each member adjacent the block 6 of another member. The several side pieces are so connected that they can be adjusted at each corner to vary the distance between both pairs of opposite pieces, the square outline of the frame being maintained without ends projecting, whereby the frame and article can be tightly and evenly packed in a case with the frame fitting the case throughout. For this purpose, the portion 8 at the end- 7 ofv each side piece faces the end 4 of the adjacent side piece, while the opposite end 4 of the same piece faces the portion 8 of the piece adjacent thereto. Holes. 9 are bored through the portions 8 of the side pieces, which, when the members are assembled, face the ends of the blocks 3. Screws or other fastening devices 10 extend through these- Patented July 27,1920.

sembling t holes into the ends of the blocks 3 whereby the several frame pieces are fastened together. The structure is the same at all corners. The grain of each wooden piece 2 and block 3 connected by the screws at each corner is so arranged that the danger of splitting the wood by the screws 1s practlcally eliminated, the screws enterm the block at ri ht angles to the nails 5. n asfie side members, it is preferable to leave spaces 11 between them so that the frame 1 may be adjusted or screwed up to cabinets of different sizes. however, three side pieces or members 2 only of the frame are assembled or screwed together before placing the same around the cabinet, and the fourth side member is placed in position only after the frame has been placed around the cabinet.

In order to support the top frame 1 from the top of the cabinet there are provided straps 12 and 13 of webbing extending, for instance, from one member 2 to the opposite member, and a strap 14. extending at right angles to the straps 12 and 13 and connecting the remaining members. The

straps are of sufficient length to space and support the top frame 1 below the cover of the cabinet, substantiallyas shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The strap 14 extends across the cabinet cover in front of the hinge 15 and parallel therewith and serves to hold the cover in closed position during transit.

The several straps have their ends directed I downwardly inside of-the frame 1 around the bottom and up to the top, where they are secured by nails 16.

Pads 17 comprising cork plates or disks 18 are secured to the blocks 3 and 6 in any suitable manner. Felt pieces 19 are glued to the cork disks or plates. The present construction provides contact between the frame 1 and the cabinet at or near the corners 20 only of the latter which in present cabinet construction are the strongest portions thereof, being usually provided with corner posts. When the top frame is assembled, there will be a block 3 with a pad and a block 6 with a pad at each corner arranged at right angles to each other and engaging the cabinet at the corner. Any pressure exerted upon the cabinet will therefore be transmitted to the same at the corners and not to the frail panels between the corners. The pads 17 comprising the cork disks or plates with their felt surfaces, provide a yielding resilient construction, which gives sufiiciently when the cabinet is jarred or moved, and also a construction which will not mar, disfigure or scratch the cabinet, or damage the article shipped.

In order to prevent the top frame from moving upwardly and to retain it in. position about the cabinet with the straps taut, a bottom frame or cradle 21 which extends In assembling,

ing, providin a construction which spaces the cabinet at all points from the packing case 23 and which at the same time will not scratch, damage or disfigure the cabinet. The frame is secured to the case in a well known manner as shown.

The cork and felt material used for the pads to preventscratching, etc., may be replaced by other materials having similar properties, if so desired. The advantage of my frame resides in its durability, whereby it remains in good condition during transit so that broken pieces will not scratch or damage the cabinet; in its adjustability, whereby it can be easily and quickly placed around cabinets of various sizes; and in the efiicient manner in which it engages the cabinet and case so that it will not mar or scratch the former and fits evenly in the latter.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the embodiments and features specifically shown and described herein, but that such embodiments and features are subject to changes and modifications without any departure from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Let- {ers Patent of the United States is as folows:

1. In a packing frame, a lurality of sidepieces, fastening devices irectly and adjustably connecting the adjacent pieces together thereby forming a frame the adjacent pieces of which are adjustable in directions at an angle to each other and pads applied to said pieces and adapted to. be moved into engagement with an article to be packed upon adjustment of the frame, substantially as described.

2. In a pacln'ng frame, a plurality of side pieces, fastening devices adjustably connecting said pieces together only at their ends and forming an open frame the adjacent pieces of which are adjustable in directions at right angles to each other and pads applied to said pieces and adapted to' be moved into engagement with an article to be packed upon adjustment of the frame, substantially as described.

3. In a packing frame, a plurality of side pieces, blocks secured to sides of said pieces, pads attached to said blocks and fastening devices connecting the pieces together through said blocks, substantially as described.

4. In a packing frame, a plurality of side I pieces arranged to form a frame, an end portion of each piece overlapping an end of an adjacent piece, and means for adjustably drawing up each piece in a direction to move it toward the end of the piece that it overlaps to adjust the size of the frame, substantially as described.

5. In a packing frame, a plurality of side pieces each provided with blocks secured thereto near its ends, pads attached to said blocks and providing two pads at each corner of the frame arranged at an angle to each other, and fastening means for adjustably connecting said pieces together only at the corners of the frame, substantially. as described.

6. In a packing frame, a plurality of side pieces provided with blocks secured thereto, each adjacent pair of said side pieces being adjustably connected together only at their adjacent ends thereby providing a frame the adjacent pieces of which are adjustable in directions at an angle to each other, and pads attached to said blocks and adapted to be moved into engagement with the article to be packed upon adjustment of the frame, substantially as described.

7 In a packing frame, a plurality of side ieces, each pair of adjacent side pieces be-,

mg adjustably connected together only at their adjacent ends thereby providing a frame the adjacent pieces of which are adjustabie in directions at right angles to each other, pads applied to a side of each of said pieces adjacent its ends, providing two pads at each corner of the frame arranged at an angle to each other and adapted to engage an article packed at its corners upon adjustment of the frame, substantially as described.

8. In a packing frame, side pieces, blocks attached to each piece, one of said blocks of each piece being spaced inwardly from an end of the piece, pads attached to said blocks and fastening devices connecting the sides of said pieces between their spaced blocks and said ends with adjacent blocks of adjacent pieces, substantially as described.

9. Ina packing frame, a plurality of side pieces, blocks attached to the inside of each piece adjacent to its ends and providing two blocks at each corner ofthe frame arranged at an angle to each other, one of said blocks of each piece being spaced inwardly from an end of the piece, pads attached to said blocks and screws extending through the sides of said pieces between their spaced blocks and ends adjacent thereto into adjacent blocks of adjacent pieces whereby the pieces are connected together and the frame is adjustable in directions at right angles to each other, substantially as described.

10. In a packing frame, a plurality of side pieces, blocks secured to the inside of said pieces adjacent to their ends. and provided with pads to prevent the marring or disfiguring of an article packed and to engage the article at its corners, screws extending through said pieces near one end of each into adjacent blocks of adjacent pieces, means supporting said frame from the top of the article, a cradle extending beneath the article and strips connecting said pieces to said cradle, substantially as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 18th day of September, 1917.

GEORGE T. MALLETTE. 

